Dhurandhar – The Revenge unfolds as an ambitious spectacle, blending geopolitics, action, and emotional conflict, yet struggles to sustain narrative depth, offering scale and intensity while leaving thematic resonance and storytelling cohesion wanting. Arnab Banerjee gives it ★★☆☆☆

Dhurandhar – The Revenge: Spectacle Over Substanc - A Thunderous Saga That Echoes More Than It Resonates

Director: Aditya Dhar

Cast: Ranveer Singh, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan, Sara Arjun, Rakesh Bedi, Danish Pandor, Gaurav Gera, Manav Gohil, Raj Zutshi

Cinematography: Vikash Nowlakha

Music: Shashwat Sachdev

Rating: ★★☆☆☆

The State of Contemporary Cinema

Never before has cinema exercised such formidable influence as it does in the present moment, particularly within India. Technological sophistication has refined nearly every facet of filmmaking; yet, in this relentless pursuit of scale and spectacle, a measure of restraint often appears to have been relinquished.

The industry now stands at a curious intersection where artistic ambition, public sentiment, and institutional interests frequently converge. Films, filmmakers, and narratives alike are championed or contested with equal fervour, often within frameworks that extend beyond the purely cinematic. Such an environment, while undeniably vibrant for audiences, inevitably shapes the nature of the stories being told.

Emerging in the wake of a commercially triumphant predecessor, Dhurandhar: The Revenge arrives amid considerable anticipation. Its very title signals an assertive tonal shift, inviting audiences to expect a narrative steeped in retribution and intensity. Thus, even prior to its release, the film’s positioning ensures a receptive viewership predisposed to its thematic inclinations.

Narrative and Geopolitical Context

The narrative draws, albeit loosely, from a constellation of real-world geopolitical developments in South Asia, weaving together elements reminiscent of events such as the IC-814 hijacking and the Mumbai attacks of 2008, alongside broader political and economic references. At its centre stands Jaskirat Singh Rangi, whose personal tragedy—marked by familial devastation and displacement—propels him into a trajectory defined by violence, retribution, and eventual transformation into Hamza Ali Mazari, a covert operative navigating the shadowed corridors of international espionage.

Character Dynamics and Performances

Portrayed by Ranveer Singh, Hamza assumes a dual existence: a familial figure embedded within Karachi’s Lyari underworld and an instrument of statecraft guided by intelligence chief Ajay Sanyal, played by R. Madhavan. The film situates him as both participant and architect in a larger design aimed at destabilising adversarial structures from within. His principal adversary, Major Iqbal (Arjun Rampal), along with an ensemble of antagonistic forces, sustains the film’s conflict-driven framework.

Despite its expansive scale—extending to nearly four hours—the film’s narrative momentum proves inconsistent. Structured in episodic “chapters,” each heralding impending escalation, the storytelling often reiterates its central motifs without sufficient variation or depth. The persistent emphasis on spectacle—manifested through prolonged action sequences and heightened displays of violence—gradually diminishes its own impact, prompting a sense of narrative fatigue rather than sustained engagement.

Ideology and Tonal Register

The film’s tonal register is unambiguously assertive. It articulates a vision of geopolitical conflict that privileges decisive action and retributive justice, framing its protagonist as a near-mythic embodiment of national resolve. In doing so, it adopts a distinctly binary lens, wherein ideological divergence is afforded limited nuance. Complex socio-political realities are thus distilled into sharply delineated positions, leaving little space for ambiguity or introspection.

Musically, the film opts for abundance over restraint. Rather than punctuating pivotal moments, songs are interspersed with notable frequency, occasionally interrupting narrative continuity. The incorporation of familiar tracks—such as “Rasputin” and “Tirchi Topewala”—appears intended to amplify stylistic flair, yet ultimately contributes to a sense of repetition that undercuts the film’s dramatic aspirations.

Performance Analysis

Performance-wise, Ranveer Singh is afforded greater emotional latitude than in the earlier instalment, though his portrayal remains predominantly anchored in physicality and action. Rakesh Bedi introduces intermittent moments of levity, albeit unintentionally, while Sanjay Dutt and Arjun Rampal inhabit their roles with a visual intensity that aligns closely with the film’s stylised aesthetic.

In its concluding passages, the narrative gestures toward introspection—raising questions regarding identity, allegiance, and personal cost. Yet these contemplative threads are only briefly engaged before yielding once more to the film’s overarching preoccupation with spectacle and resolution. The result is a work that achieves its intended sense of culmination, though more in scale than in emotional or thematic resonance.

Ultimately, Dhurandhar 2 presents itself as an ambitious yet uneven cinematic endeavour—one that privileges magnitude and messaging over subtlety and cohesion. It reflects the spirit of its moment: impassioned, assertive, and unrestrained, though not always in service of enduring storytelling. 

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